The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-01-29

sized lump of dull-colored ore on the
table. you never seen no such mug
get as that, Jake. It's wuth more'n
any gold dust you ever heard tell onl'
"You don't say!'' said Jake, hand
ling it with an envious look. "You do
hev the durn dest luck, Hibbs. but you
needn't hev give us all the dirty
shake"
"Some luck won't bear tcllin'," said
Hibbs, smiling so that two yellow fangs
showed through his shaggy red beard.
"Tve alwas done the square thing by
you'uns--ain't I, ODonovanp I'm
willin' to put up the nugget and ante
double, but I amt agoin' to give my
self away"
''Do you call zat q squehaire dealp"
said the third man, an Italian. "Hev
notta we shared all-yes, all--wiz
you?"
"Yes," said Hibbs; "but we're all
pards in this. I've got new lead, and
II good one it is. / didn't say nothin'
about new leads when come here.
said I'd go in with ye fur that measly
old shaft out there, and / hev gone in;
but don't want no pard in this divy.
/ say I'll put up the nugget, and that's $
all. Come on now!'
He drew out of his pocket u greasy
pack of cards, and sitting down on one
of the barrel-heads began to shuttle.
"Come on, Antonio" he said, pull
ing the Italian by the sleeve. "None
of your funny business.
II wccl notta!'' cried the Italian,
angrily. II blay notta wiz Il robber
and "a williamsburg. You tell me
wherefore you find desa gold and desa
nuggets whatever, or by - you will
blay no more antes!'
Like a flash dirk leapt from his
belt; but Hibbs was as quick with his
revolver.
"That's your game, is itp" he cried,
springing up with an oath and backing
toward the side of the room. His move-
ment knocked the nugget off the table.
1t rolled toward Henry, and his fingers
closed over it involuntarily.
Almost Immediately there was a loud
report, and the Italian dropped
O'Donovan and the man called Jake
rushed forward. A number of shots
whistled through the narrow cabin.
Twice Henry heard the dull thud of
falling bodies; and leaning against the
door was Hibbs with a ghastly wound
in his neck.
Rousing himself with an effort, like
one who shakes off nightmare, Henry
cried
"Stop, for Gods sake!'
Almost Immediately the smell Of
powder vanished. The three bleeding
bodies ON the floor disappeared. Hibbs
no longer stood in the doorway with
that ghastly wound in his neck, but in
his place q tall, familiar figure in a
Colonel's uniform.
"Oh, Mr.. Dwight!'' exclaimed Mrs.
Morton, in distress. "How did you get
here?"
I'll don't know" said Henry,
family. 'It-it was long way"
"You poor fellow!" murmured Louise,
whose pale, sweet face shone like q
star above him.
lyon are in Il pretty hard way arn't
you?" said the Colonel, kindly. "Don't
move! Wen get litter for YOU"
"What q mercy we camel" cried
Mrs. Morton. 'Louise was possessed
to come up here to see the ghosts, as
she said; and she fairly badgered me
into coming. But had no idea-''
'Of course we hadn't" said the Col
onel, briskly. "Helen, come and help
me here, won't you?'
Henry turned his head. The pain
had come back, but he did not mind it
so long as that face was beside him. He
put out his hand with boldness for
which he never could account, and took
Louise's.
"My darlingr' he said, just as though
he had a right to call her SO, and she,
bending down over him, brushed back
his hair from his forehead.
II wouldn't talk now," she said, in a
low tone. And that was the extent OF
their love-making.
When they got Henry back to Mani
tou he still held in his hands the piece
of dull ore he had picked up in O'Don-
ovan's cabin. Dave and Nick, the
guides, had gotten well out of the way;
but the story of Henry's danger made a
vast sensation, especially when it be-
came known that he had taken up
O'Donovan's claim and meant to work
it.
ut is platinum, as I thought" Henry
said, when he had completed his assay
of the ore. "Those ignorant men aban-
doned something better than a gold
mine"
"But they let you have it," said
Louise, gravely. IF you hadn't
seen -"
"Nonsenser' was Henry's laughing
rejoinder. II hope you do not put any
faith in the illusions of delirious
man."
"Why. you know there are such
things as spirits, Henry" she insisted.
He laughed again.
'.But there is one thing do wish"
she said. pensively.
"Well?"
II wish you had asked me to marry
you before you had found the platinum
NINE"
He took her hand and held it in q
close, warm clasp.
81 was too poor to ask you then,